Eat dark leafy greens daily. Dark green leafy vegetables are good sources of many vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, and K, folate, iron, calcium, and fiber. Studies show that the nutrients found in dark green leafy veggies may prevent certain types of cancers and promote heart health.

Drink lemon water as soon as you wake up. You can read why in my post,10 reasons to make lemon water part of your morning routine. If you want a hint – lemons contain loads of vitamin C, which boosts the immune system, protects against cardiovascular disease, and even has cancer-fighting properties.

Don’t run to the doctor for every little sniffle or pain. I am not against doctors. My family goes for their annual exams and I believe in modern medicine. But I strongly feel that we should try natural remedies before we explore pharmaceutical options. It’s important to realize that our current healthcare system is designed to manage symptoms, NOT get to the root cause of your medical problem.

Listen to your body. It’s pretty simple – if you’re thirsty, drink water. If you’re hungry, eat something. But for many, they don’t make decisions based on what their body is telling them. I promise that if you take some time, and learn to listen to your body, your health can improve.

Limit your red meat consumption, but when you do eat it, eat grass-fed. “A study from Harvard School of Public Health found an association with red meat consumption and increased risk of a shortened lifespan. Eating healthier protein sources such as fish, poultry, nuts, and legumes was associated with a lower risk of mortality.” (source)

Read the labels on your personal care and cleaning products. When people detox, they often forget that products we put ON our body can affect our health, just as much as products we put IN our body. Don’t forget your skin is your largest organ.

Remember that 70% of your immune system lives in your gut. I once heard someone say if your gut bacteria are sick, so are you. Your gut contains 70% of the cells that make up your immune system. So if you ate something that’s affecting the bacteria in your gut, chances are your immune system is compromised, which will lead to illness.

“If man made it, don’t eat it”.Jack Lalanne said that. And while I know it is impossible to live 100% of your life like that, I believe you can try. I’ll take 80%, but I prefer 90% *wink*.

Leann is a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and Certified Essential Oils Coach, holding a Master’s degree from Drake University and a Bachelor of Science from Upper Iowa University. Leann is accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. And she is an award winning author of 2 books “How to Get Your Kids to Beg for Veggies” and “100 Ways to Lose Weight”.

Born and raised as an Iowa farm girl, she moved to Texas in 1998 where she lives with her husband and 2 kids.